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VNnOHVD  Hi/dON 
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to  9  •* 


TME  MOWS  iOMPILE. 


IN  EASY  VERSE. 


ST  SIISS  M.  B.  TVCKBT, 
OF   DUBLIN. 


'  Vbit  k  tr.jr  belovsd.  and  thii  a  my  friend,  O  daughters  of  Jerusalem* 

Song  uj  .W  Tr  < 


PHILADELPHIA: 

AMERICAN   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 

1122  Chestnut  St. 


Entered  accot  Jing  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1841, 
by  Herman  Hope,  Treasurer,  in  trust  to  t>  -  American  Sun- 
day-school fJnion,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Instrict  Court 
3f  the  Eastern  Distric.  of  Pennsylvania. 


PREFACE 


^L 


The  beautiful  little  poem  which  you 
lave  in  your  hand  came  from  Ireland. 
The  lady  who  wrote  it  knows  very  well 
how  to  please  children ;  and  in  these  verses 
she  has  given  us  a  very  interesting  history 
of  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ,  while  he  was 
in  this  world. 

Some  of  the  verses  which  we  find  in 
children's  books  are  very  low  and  vulgar, 
and  not  worth  the  time  it  takes  to  read 
them;  but  this  poem  may  be  read  with 
pleasure  and  profit  even  by  the  oldest  and 
wisest,  as  well  as  by  the  young  and  igno- 
rant. 

-*»        * 

>         The  reader  will  remember  that  the  kind 

k 


*  PREFACE. 

author  places  Jesus  beiore  us  as  our  Ex- 
ample, or  pattern.  We  should  i:  quire, 
therefore,  as  we  read  one  page  after  ano- 
ther, whether  our  conduct  and  conversa- 
tion are  like  his. 

"le  are  my  friends/'  he  once  said, 
6  if  ye  do  whatsoever .  I  command  you." 

John  xv.  14. 


9 

His  very  foes  were  forced  to  tell, 
That  no  man  ever  spoke  so  well ; 
And  wondering  crowds  with  gladness  hung 
On  the  sweet  accents  of  his  tongue. 

From  every  thing  he  heard  or  saw 
Lessons  of  wisdom  he  would  draw  ; 
The  clouds ;  the  colours  in  the  sky  ; 
The  gentle  breeze  that  whispers  by ; 
The  fields,  all  white  with  waving  corn ; 
The  lilies  that  the  vale  adorn ; 
The  reed  that  trembles  in  the  wind: 
The  tree  where  none  its  fruit  can  find ; 
The  sliding  sand ;  the  flinty  rock, 
That  bears  unmoved  the  tempest's  shock « 
The  thorns  that  on  the  earth  abound ; 
The  tender  grass  that  clothes  the  ground; 
The  little  birds  that  fly  til  air; 
The  sheep  that  need  the  shepherd's  care, 


10  JESUS, 

The  pearls  that  deep  in  ocean  lie ; 
The  gold  that  charms  the  miser's  eye — 
All  from  his  lips  some  truth  proclaim, 
Or  learn  to  tell  their  Maker's  name. 

Through  "ife  his  daily  work  he  found 
In  doing  good  to  all  around : 
He  filled  the  hungry  poor  with  bread, 
But  cared  not  how  himself  was  fed : 
The  meat  and  drink  he  ever  loved 
Was  doing  that  which  God  approved. 
Such  mighty  power  was  in  his  hand, 
All  nature  bowed  at  his  command  ; 
The  stormy  winds  his  will  obeyed ; 
The  raging  waves  by  him  were  stayed; 
The  dead  arose  to  bless  his  name  ; 
The  dumb  went  forth  ti )  tell  his  fame ; 
He  bade  the  lame  to  walk — the  ear, 
That  long  was  closed,  his  voice  to  hear; 


11 

His  word  gave  eye-sight  to  the  blind ; 
Ax.d  healed  the  poor,  bewildered  mind. 
The  sick  were  brought  from  every  place 
To  share  the  wonders  of  his  grace ; 
And  as  he  did  their  health  restore, 
He  bade  them  "  go  and  sin  no  more." 
Children  within  his  arms  he  pressed, 
And  laid  his  hands  on  them — and  blessed. 
So  tender  and  so  kind  was  he, 
He  wept  another's  grief  to  see. 
Sinners  like  wandering  sheep  he  sought, 
And  to  the  fold  in  safety  brought  : 
And  holy  sorrow  fLled  his  eye, 
That  any  in  their  sins  should  die. 

Those  were  the  sweetest  hours  he  knew, 
When  nepr  to  heaven  in  prayer  he  drew : 
And  when  with  ceaseless  toil  opprest, 
He  sougnt  some  desert  mountain's  breast, 


12  JESUS, 

(But  not  alrne — for  God  was  there,) 
To  pour  the  voice  of  sacred  prayer, 
And  often,  long  before  'twas  day, 
Leaving  liis  rest,  he  went  to  pray ; 
And  sometimes  'twas  his  great  delight, 
In  prayer  to  speak  with  God  all  night. 

But,  Anna,  time  and  words  wou<  i  Till 
His  constant  goodness  to  detail ; 
'Twas  like  an  ever-flowing  stream, 
A  blessing  wheresoe'er  it  came  ; 
Yet  men  were  found  with  hearts  ro  hard. 
They  gave  his  kindness  no  regard ; 
And  when  he  did  tneir  sins  ref/ove, 
They  paid  him  hatred  for  his  iove  ; 
With  craft  and  rage,  from  day  to  day 
They  sought  to  take  his  life  away ; 
Sometimes  with  friendly  words  they  came, 
Sometimes  with  slanders  on  iiis  name ; 


They  said  his  gracious  works  were  done 

By  Satan's  power  and  not  his  own  : 

rhey  watched  him  in  his  daily  walk, 

And  tried  to  catch  him  in  his  talk  ; 

But  all  his  words  were  found  so  good, 

That  silent  and  ashamed  they  stood. 

The  great  deceiver  of  mankind 

In  him  no  evil  thing  could  find ; 

Thought,  word  and  deed,  alike,  were  free 

From  folly  and  iniquity  : 

(By  sore  temptations  pained  and  tried,) 

The  world  and  Satan  he  defied. 

The  thrones  of  earth  to  men  seem  fair, 

But  he  could  see  no  glory  there  ; 

He  owned  a  kingdom  far  above, 

A  kingdom  time  shall  never  move : 

God's  word  his  sword  and  sure  defence, 

He  said  to  Satan,  "  Get  thee  hence  ;" 
2 


14  JESUS, 

And  in  his  lone  and  fainting  hour 

He  triumphed  o'er  the  tempter's  power. 

Sorrow  and  suffering  well  he  knew ; 
But  holy  patience  marked  him  too  : 
Scoffed,  hated,  and  reviled  by  men, 
His  tongue  reviled  not  again. 
And  when  it  came — that  fearful  hour  ' 
That  gave  him  to  the  sinner's  power ; 
And  when  it  came — that  fearful  time  ! 
That  filled  a  nation's  cup  of  crime ; 
When  one  who  ate  his  bread,  betray'd, 
And  wicked  hands  on  him  were  laid , 
Just  like  a  lamb  to  slaughter  led, 
He  went  to  let  his  blood  be  shed ; 
Nor  opened  he  his  mouth  to  call 
For  lightning  on  his  foes  to  fall, 
Even  at  the  moment  when  he  heard 
A  murderer  to  himself  preferred. 


the  child's  example.  15 

They  led  him  to  i  death  of  shame  ; 
They  called  him  by  a  traitor's  name ; 
Those,  whom  his  hand  had  healed  ana 

fed, 
Shouted  for  vengeance  on  his  head  : 
His  flesh  with  nails  was  rudely  torn, 
His   head   was   crowned   with   piercing 

thorn; 
His  foes  his  sufferings  did  deride, 
His  dearest  friends  forsook  his  side  : 
One,  who  had  vowed  with  him  to  die, 
His  very  name  did  now  deny. 
Deep  sorrows  compassed  him  about, 
Hope  for  a  time  seemed  quite  shut  out, 
When  e'en  his  heavenly  Father's  face 
Withdrew  its  wonted  smile  of  grace. 
The  darkened  sun  refused  to  see 
That  hour  of  sharpest  agony  ; 


16  JEStJS, 

«My  God!  my  God!"  he  cried,  "0  whv 

Hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?" — the  cry 

Told  all  the  grief  his  spirit  bore ; 

And  men  reviled  and  mocked  the  more. 

Yet  in  that  dreadful  hour  he  felt 

His  heart  with  love  and  pity  melt ; 

He  marked  his  mother's  look  of  wo, 

Her  tears  of  bitter  anguish  flow, 

And  gave  her  to  the  tender  care 

Of  one  who  watched  in  friendship  there. 

He  listened  to  the  humble  cry 

Of  a  repentant  sinner  nigh, 

And  spake  sweet  promises  to  cheer 

His  fainting  soul,  and  calm  his  fear; 

Fhe  cruel  men,  that  wrought  his  death, 

'ie  prayed  for  with  his  parting  breath; 

Vsked  that  their  pin  might  be  forgiven, 

Ind  i netted  from  the  book  of  heaven. 


17 

Then,  as  he  bowed  his  dying  head, 
He  raised  his  voice  a.oud  and  said, 

"'Tis  finished." 
His  pangs  were  o'er — his  soul  of  love 
Passed  to  the  Paradise  above : 
Creation  trembled  as  he  went : 
The  earth  did  quake — the  rocks  were  rent; 
And  through  the  crowd  the  murmur  ran, 
u  Truly  this  was  a  righteous  man." 

Many  who  saw  his  sufferings  mourned. 
And  smote  their  breasts  as  home   they 

turned ; 

Some,  who  had  stood  far  off  from  fear, 

Again  took  courage  and  drew  near, 

The  tear  of  deepest  grief  to  shed 

O'er  the  loved  Friend,  who  now  was  dead 

Close  to  the  spot  there  was  a  cave, 

But  newly  fashioned  for  a  grave ; 
2* 


18  JESUS, 

They  laid  him  there,  as  one  asleep, 
And  turned  away  to  pray  and  weep. 

Now  tell  me,  Anna,  if  you  can, 
Who  was  this  child,  and  who  this  man  ? 
I  think  I  hear  you  say,  "  I  know ; 
'Twas  Christ,  the  Lord,  who  came  to  show 
How  little  children,  such  as  I, 
May  rise  to  glory  when  they  die ; 
I  know  'twas  Christ,  because  his  heart 
Alone  was  pure  in  every  part : 
He  was  the  Son  of  God,  and  he 
From  every  spot  of  sin  was  free 


PART  II. 


Comb.    \>na,  let  us  go  to-day, 
And  see  the  place  where  Jesus  lay ; 
A  stone  has  kept  the  grave  secure ; 
The  stone  is  sealed  to  make  it  sure ; 
A  guard  of  soldiers  watching  stand  ; 
They  came  at  Pilate's  own  command : 
In  vain  they  watch — the  mighty  stone 
Is  rolled  away  :  the  Lord  is  gone  ! 
He  came  to  die,  but  death  is  o'er ; 
He  lives  !  He  reigns  for  evermore  ! 

Anna,  we  cannot  lift  our  eyes 
To  God's  bright  throne  above  the  skies; 
Even  angels  veil  their  faces  there, 
While  they  his  holiness  declare. 


20  JESUS, 

By  searching  we  can  never  fir.d 
How  great  the  wisdom  of  his  mmd 
He  lives,  he  works  in  every  place, 
But  man  has  never  seen  his  face : 
No  mortal  eye  could  bear  to  see 
The  brightness  of  His  majesty  ; 
Yet  from  that  brightness  Jesus  came, 
To  oear  the  world's  contempt  and  shame 
Eternity  beheld  him  stand, 
God's  Fellow,  high  at  his  right  hand, 
And  with  the  Equal  Spirit  share 
Infinite  power  and  glory  there. 
'Twas  He  the  earth's  foundations  laid, 
'Twas  He,  sun,  moon  and  stars  that  made 
No  robber  of  his  Father's  throne, 
He  claimed  its  honours  as  his  own  : 
While  holy  angels  him  confessed, 
God  over  all,  and  ever  blessed  ! 


Why  did  he  leave  that  world  of  bliss, 
To  take  a  servant's  form  hi  this  ? 
Why  did  he  leave  his  Father's  side, 
To  be  despised  and  crucified  ? 
Why,  Anna,  can  you  tell  me  why 
The  King  of  kings  came  down  to  die  ? 
You  think  a  while,  and  then  you  say, 
a  I  know  that  too — for  every  day 
I  read  the  Bible,  where  'tis  said, 
That  'twas  for  sinners  Jesus  bled." 
Yes,  Anna  !  when  Jehovah  saw 
Ungrateful  man  forsake  his  law, 
His  justice  gave  the  stern  command — 
"Destroy" — but  mercy  stayed  his  hand. 
God  loved  the  guilty  world,  and  gave 
His  only  Son  our  souls  to  save  , 

His  only  Son  with  joy  agreed 

To  suffer  in  the  rebels'  stead, 


22  jesus, 

Prophets  foretold  his  coming  day ; 
A  messenger  prepared  his  way  ; 
And  sent  the  joyful  shout  abroad — 
"  Zion  !  Behold  your  King  and  God !" 
He  took  our  feeble  flesh  to  be 
The  partner  of  his  Deity  : 
Yet  not  in  pride  and  pomp  arrayed, 
To  rule  the  world  his  hands  had  made : 
A  stable  was  his  place  of  birth, 
Though  he  was  Lord  of  heaven  and  eartk 
Rich  in  eternal  glory,  He 
Chose  nothing  here  but  poverty  : 
The  birds  have  shelter  and  are  fed ; 
He  had  not  where  to  lay  his  head. 
The  law  man  broke  he  did  fulfil 
He  came  to  do  his  Father's  will, 
And  in  his  perfect  righteousness 
Men's  lost,  polluted  souls  to  dress. 


the  child's  example.  23 

On  Calvary's  cross  the  Saviour  died, 
That  sinners  might  be  justified, 
And,  washed  in  his  atoning  blood, 
Might  stand  before  a  holy  God  : 
Pardon  to  guilty  man  is  given 
As  freely  as  the  light  of  heaven ; 
No  price  from  him  does  God  demand, 
He  asks  no  labour  from  his  hand ; 
Rebels  condemned  can  nothing  give — 
This  is  the  word,  "  Believe  and  live." 
For  Christ's  sake  all  their  sins  shall  be 
Cast  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea  ; 
Their  souls  exalted  to  his  throne, 
And  counted  holy  like  his  own. 

So,  Anna,  did  the  Saviour  prove 
The  strength  of  his  Almighty  love ; 
So  did  the  Father's  pardoning  grace 
Shine  in  the  great  Redeemer's  lace. 


24  JESUS, 

Behold  him  as  he  walks  the  earth, 
A  holy  being  from  his  birth . 
Behold  him,  as  he  bleeds  and  dies, 
The  sinner's  spotless  sacrifice  ! 
Behold  God's  well -beloved  Son 
Bearing  the  sins  that  man  had  done  f 
Behold  him,  as  on  earth  again 
He  shows  himself  alive  to  men  ! 
Behold  him,  as  his  friends  draw  near, 
Their  Master's  latest  charge  to  hear ; 
Till,  rising  to  the  heaven  of  light, 
A  cloud  receives  him  from  their  sight ! 
Behold  him  now  at  God's  right  hand , 
The  world  is  given  to  his  command  • 
And  daily  blessings  still  record 
The  love  of  our  ascended  Lord  ! 
For  rebels  still  he  intercedes, 
For  them  his  sacrifice  he  pleads. 


Still  in  his  word  we  hear  him  say, 
"  I  am  the  Life,  the  Truth,  the  Way." 
Why,  sinners  !  will  you  close  the  ear, 
When  Christ  himself  invites  to  hear? 
For  you  he  came  to  earth  and  died ; 
For  you  was  pierced  his  bleeding  side : 
The  heart,  that  bore  your  sorrows  then, 
Still  feels  for  all  the  woes  of  men. 
Come,  weary  with  your  sins,  and  rest 
On  Jesus'  sympathizing  breast ! 

Anna  !  are  you  a  sinner  ?  Why 
Does  Anna  turn  away  her  eye  ? 
That  downcast  look,  it  answers — "  Yes,,J 
Young  as  you  are,  you  must  confess 
How  many  an  evil  thought  can  find 
A  hiding-place  within  y  )ur  mind ; 
What  foolish  things  you  otten  say  ; 
How  idly  you  can  spend  your  day. 


86  Jesus, 

How  pride  ar..d  passion  often  throw, 
Upon  your  cheek,  a  crimson  glow ; 
What  floods  oi  tears  will  often  fall, 
For  things  you  do  not  want  at  all : 
Whene'er  you  take  a  walk  abroad, 
How  little  do  you  think  of  God ; 
To  please  yourself,  how  much  inclined , 
To  others,  thankless  and  unkind ; 
How  careful  of  your  dress  and  food ; 
How  often  careless  to  be  good: 
How  oft,  when  kind  mamma  says,  "  Pray, 
Anna,  do  this" — Anna  says,  "  Nay ;" 
And  does  her  selfish  will  prefer 
To  dear  papa's,  who  cares  for  her. 
Novr,  Anna,  other  children,  too, 
Are  thoughtless  sinners,  just  like  you; 
There's  not  a  child  in  all  the  earth, 
But  is  a  sinner  from  his  birth. 


21 

His  heart,  his  thoughts,  his  hands,  nis 

tongue, 
Are  not  like  Christ's,  when  he  was  youngs 
And  as  he  grows  from  child  to  mm, 
He  will  go  on  as  he  began ; 
Increase  in  folly  every  day, 
And  love  each  evil  work  and  way; 
Till  God  his  Spirit  shall  impart, 
Create  anew  the  stony  heart, 
Melt  it  like  wax,  before  the  flame, 
And  stamp  it  with  the  Saviour's  name- 
But,  Anna  !  'twill  not  shelter  you, 
That  all  besides  are  sinful  too, 
When   Christ    to  judgment  shall  com* 

down 
And  look  on  sinnerc  with  a  frown. 
Once  on  this  guilty  earth  he  trod, 
The  oatient,  suffer ng  Lamb  of  God; 


88  JESUS, 

And  once  again  in  clouds  of  light, 
While  sinners  tremble  at  the  sight, 
Ajs  Sovereign  Judge,  shall  Jesus  come, 
And  speak  their  everlasting  doom. 
Then,  on  that  great  and  solemn  day, 
When  heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away, 
All  who  within  the  graves  have  lain 
Shall  rise  from  dust,  and  live  again, 
With  those  who,  long  forgotten,  sleep 
In  the  dark  caverns  of  the  deep. 
Behold  !  the  great  white  throne  is  set ; 
All  nations  round  that  throne  are  met : 
Safe  gathered,  at  their  Lord's  right  hand 
His  dear  redeemed  people  stand; 
But  who  are  these,  of  hope  bereft, 
Weeping  and  wailing  on  the  left  ? 
These  are  the  unbelieving  race, 
Whose  stubborn  hearts  despised  his  grace 


29 


Too  late  their  folly  they  deplore — 

The  voice  of  mercy  speaks  no  more : 

Driv'n  from  the  face  of  God,  they  go 

To  darkness  and  eternal  wo. 

I  want  to  teach  my  Anna  this, 

God  with  the  wicked  angry  is  : 

Their  sins  he  never  will  forgive, 

Until  in  Jesus  they  believe ; 

Until  their  sinfulness  they  own ; 

And  hope  for  heaven  through  him  alone 

Then  will  they  walk  as  Jesus  walked, 

And  talk  as  their  loved  Master  talked ; 

And  think  of  God  in  all  their  ways, 

And  speak  to  him  in  prayer  and  praise 

And  see  him  in  his  works  of  love, 

And  see  him  on  his  throne  above  ; 

No  more  to  please  themselves  inclined, 

lake  tFesus,  merciful  and  kind, 
3* 


.  *0  JESUS, 

Their  hearts,  by  daily  grace  renewed 
Shall  find  delight  in  doing  good ; 
And  men  shall  bless  them  when  they  see 
Their  works  of  faith  and  charity  : 
God  shall  look  down  with  smiling  face, 
And  lead  them  to  his  dwelling-place. 

The  years  of  man,  dear  Anna,  pass 
Just  like  the  blade  of  tender  grass ; 
To-day,  all  green  and  fresh  'tis  found — 
To-morrow,  withered  on  the  ground : 
The  child  is  full  of  life  to-day — 
To-morrow,  sleeping  in  the  clay. 
Vnd  where  shall  sinful  children  fly, 
To  hide  from  God's  all-searching  eye, 
When  he  shall  bid  the  trumpet  sound, 
And  raise  their  bodies  from  the  ground? 
On  rocks  and  mountains  they  may  call, 
Upor.  their  trembling  flesh  to  fail  5 


■THE    CHILD'S    EXAMPLE.  31 

But  they  shall  find  no  hiding-place 
From  an  orlended  Saviour's  face. 
Ho  loved  them  once — his  tender  heart 
In  all  their  sorrows  bore  a  part ; 
With  gentlest  words  he  spoke  to  win 
Their  footsteps  from  the  ways  of  sin ; 
But  sin  was  to  their  hearts  so  dear 
The  Saviour's  voice  they  would  not  hear. 
Dear  Anna,  since  the  Lord,  from  heaven, 
Died,  that  your  sins  might  be  forgiven, 
Since  to  the  shameful  cross  he  went, 
And  bore  the  sinner's  punishment ; 
Since  in  the  grave  his  body  lay, 
Until  his  own  appointed  day; 
Since  he  ascended  to  the  sky, 
To  send  down  blessings  from  on  high  5 
Since  He,  in  heaven's  bright  cc  urts  alone 
Sits  on  the  Mediator's  throne, 


32  jesus, 

Sharing  with  none  that  glorious  name 

He  won  through  agony  and  shame ; 

Since  saints  and  angels  join  to  raise 

To  him  adoring  songs  of  praise, 

And  own  him  worthy  to  receive 

The  noblest  honours  they  can  give  i 

Since  from  his  high,  exalted  seat, 

He  welcomes  sinners  to  his  feet, 

Invites  the  weary  to  his  breast, 

And  promises  to  give  them  rest ; 

Come,  listen  to  his  voice  to-day, 

Nor  for  another  hour  delay. 

[f  you  believe  the  boundless  love 

That  brought  him  from  his  throne  above ; 

And  cry  to  think  your  heart  should  hide 

The  sins,  for  which  he  groaned  and  died ; 

And  long  to  walk  from  day  to  day, 

Like  him,  in  wisdom's  pleasant  way, 


Like  him  tc  love  the  Father's  will, 
And  youi  appointed  work  fulfil ; 
Like  him,  on  heaven  to  fix  your  mind, 
And  cast  this  fading  world  behind ; 
Mild,  tender,  meek  to  all  around, 
Like  him,  at  all  times  to  be  found ; 
Like  him,  with  pitying  eye  to  see 
Men's  want,  and  guilt,  and  misery, 
And  with  constraining  love  to  win 
Their  souls  from  Satan  and  from  sin ; 
Like  him,  to  feel  for  others'  grief, 
And  give  the  sufferer  kind  relief; 
Like  him,  to  spend  your  earthly  days 
In  showing  forth  your  Maker's  praise ; 
To  mark  each  step  the  Saviour  trod, 
And  walk,  like  Enoch,  with  your  God ; 
Until  in  heaven's  eternal  bliss 
Your  eyes  shall  see  him  as  he  is ; 


34  jesus 

Behold  f  he  ready  stands  to  bless 
Your  soul  with  peace  and  holmes?, 
To  bid  the  love  of  sin  depart. 
And  write  his  word  upon  your  heart. 
Then  shall  that  word,  like  steady  light, 
Direct  your  youthful  footsteps  right ; 
*Twill  be  as  honey  to  your  taste, 
And  cheering  like  a  plenteous  feast ; 
More  precious  than  the  golden  ore, 
Or  rubies  from  the  merchant's  store : 
Then  God  will  listen  when  you  pray, 
And  stoop  to  hear  his  Anna  say, 
"  0  Lord  !  I  am  a  sinful  child, 
So  proud,  so  selfish,  and  so  wild ; 
I  heed  not  what  my  parents  say, 
So  much  I  love  my  foolish  way  5 
1  have  a  wicked  heart  within, 
d  all  1  do  is  full  of  sin; 


35 

Bit  Je&us  shed  his  precious  blood, 

To  save  my  soul  and  make  me  good : 

I  come  to  him,  because  I  know 

That    blood    can    make    me    white    as 

snow : 
He  was  a  child,  and  so  am  1, 
And  he  can  feel  when  children  cry : 
For  his  dear  sako  mv  sins  forgive, 
And  make  me  like  him  while  I  live ; 
And  lead  me  to  tnat  happy  place, 
Where  holy  children  see  his  face." 

0  !  seek  Him  now  with  all  your  mind, 
For  those  who  early  seek,  shall  find ; 
He  watches  o'er  his  flock  for  good, 
And  feeds  his  lambs  with  heavenly  food; 
Within  his  arms  he  gently  bears, 
\nd    soothes    their    sorrows    and    their 

cares: 


36        JESUS,  THE    CHILD'S    EXAMPLE. 

He  will  not  turn  from  you  his  ear, 
For  children's  prayers  to  him  are  dear, 
But  look  with  love  and  kindness  down, 
\n&  cleanse  your  spirit  with  his  own. 


THE   END. 


3  OH  S     MAU3IOB     I  N     P  B  1  S  O . 


JOHN  MAURICE; 


THE  EFFECTS  OF  A  PASSIONATE  TEMPER 


N  FOB   THE    AMERICAN    SUNDAY-SCHOOL    UNION.    AM* 
BEVTSEE    BY   THE   COMMITTEE  OF   PUBLICATION. 


AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 


1122  Chestnut  St. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1846,  be 
the  American  Sunday-school  Union,  in  the  clerk's  office  of  thy 
District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


JOHN  MAURICE. 


"Will  you  go  with  me  this 
morning  to  the  prison,  to  see  poor 
Maurice  ?"  said  a  friend  to  me  one 
clay. 

"Certainly  I  will,"  I  replied; 
and  we  immediately  were  on  our 
way,  and  in  a  few  moments  the 
walls  of  the  dismal  prison  were 
in  sight.  When  we  arrived  at  the 
prison  gate,  we  found  a  sentinel 
walking  in  front.     The  walls  were 


6  JOHN    MAURICE. 

of  dark  stone  and  very  high,  so  as 
to  prevent  any  escape  of  the  pri- 
soners, and  the  lock  of  the  door  or 
gate  very  large  and  strong.  We 
heard  the  heavy  bar  slide,  and  the 
key  turn  in  the  lock,  and  were  ad- 
mitted inside  the  walls  of  the  pri- 
son, where  those  persons  are  con- 
fined, who,  by  their  crimes,  have 
made  themselves  unfit  to  live 
among  their  fellow  men. 

"  Mr.  D and  myself   have 

called  to  see  Maurice  this  morn- 
ing," said  my  friend  to  one  of  the 
keepers. 

"  Walk  this  wray,  gentlemen,"  he 
replied ;  and  wre  followed  him 
through  a  passage-way,  on  both 
sides  of  which  were  cells,  and  in 


JOHN    MAURICE.  7 

each  of  them  was  closely  locked 
some  wicked  person,  who  was  suf- 
fering the  punishment  due  to  his 
crimes.  After  we  had  passed 
many  of  these  cells,  the  keeper 
stopped  at  one,  and  unlocking  it 
invited  us  to  enter. 

A  shudder  passed  over  me  as  I 
took  a  seat  on  the  bench  in  the 
same  cell  with  one  who  had  stained 
his  hands  with  the  blood  of  his 
fellow  man.  Poor  fellow !  he 
looked  wretched  enough,  and  when 
my  friend  shook  hands  with  him 
and  said  with  much  feeling,  "  Oh, 
John  Maurice,  has  it  come  to  this  ? 
who  would  have  thought  ?t  that 
knew  you  when  you  were  a  boy  ?" 

"Anybody  might  have  thought 


8  JOHN    MAU11ICF. 

it  who  had  known  of  my  ungo- 
verned  temper,"  replied  the  pr' 
soner  harshly. 

I  strove  to  enter  into  conversa 
tion  with  the  guilty  man,  hut  he 
seemed  very  restless,  and  replied 
to  what  I  said  with  some  impa- 
tience. 

Of  course,  I  tried  to  lead  him  to 
•see  his  guilt  in  the  sight  of  God — 
I  spoke  of  the  displeasure  of  God 
against  all  sin ;  hut  I  could  see  no 
signs  of  penitence,  and  he  only  re- 
plied that  he  had  heard  all  that 
before ! 

Now,  I  will  tell  you  what  kind 
of  a  child  John  Maurice  was. 
He  was  as  lovely  a  babe  as  ever 
smiled  in  a  mother's   arms.     He 


JOHN    MAURICE.  *) 

was  dearly  beloved  by  his  parents, 
tor  he  was  their  only  son.  His 
father  was  a  respectable  merchant, 
and  his  family  lived,  not  only  in 
comfort,  but  in  elegance. 

This  only  son  was  always  dressed 
with  neatness,  his  health  wras  care- 
fully attended  to,  and  every  thing 
provided  for  him  that  could  give 
nim  pleasure,  so  that,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, every  wish  was  gratified. 

While  he  was  but  a  babe,  he 
began  to  show  signs  of  a  violent 
temper.  When  his  wishes  were 
not  gratified,  he  used  to  scream  and 
strike  with  his  little  hands,  and 
was  often  seen  to  pout  and  scowl 
before  he  could  speak. 

Before  he  was  two  years  old,  his 


10  JOHN    MAURICE. 

father  died,  and  this  was  a  great 
loss  to  John,  for,  as  he  was  a  good 
man.  we  may  hope  he  would  have 
restrained  the  temper  of  his  son, 
and  corrected  him,  as  he  should 
have  done,  even  wrhile  he  was  an 
infant. 

His  mother  was  of  a.  yielding 
disposition,  and  her  health  heing 
very  feehle,  she  did  not  feel  al 
any  time  as  if  she  could  punish 
her  son  for  his  outbreaks  of  tem- 
per. Oh,  what  a  dreadful  mistake 
it  was  in  her  to  fail  to  correct  him 
"while- there  was  hope,"  for  he 
soon  passed  beyond  all  restraint : 
and  if  his  mother  attempted  it. 
such  a  scream  followed,  that  with 
her  feeble  state  of  health,  she  was 


JOHN    MAURICE.  1  I 

obliged  to  give  up  the  effort  to  sub 
due  him. 

By  the  tim^  John  was  eight 
years  of  age,  no  one  in  the  family 
dared  to  contradict  him ;  and  this 
state  of  things  continued  till  he 
was  fourteen,  when  it  was  consi- 
dered no  longer  safe  to  keep  him  at 
home.  His  mother,  having  con- 
sulted with  some  friends,  deter- 
mined to  send  him  to  sea. 

John  was  very  much  pleased 
with  this  plan,  so  that  no  persua- 
sion was  necessary  to  induce  him 
to  consent  to  the  proposal.  He 
thought  he  should  he  free  from  all 
restraint,  and  at  liberty  to  do  just 
as  he  pleased.  It  was  thought  best 
to  engage  a  place  for  him  in  a  ship 


12  JOHN    MAURICE. 

that  was  about  to  sail  on  a  whaling 
voyage,  as  he  would  then  be  absent 
three  years  or  more. 

Though  John  had  caused  his 
mother  so  much  grief  and  anxiety, 
she  still  loved  him  tenderly.  She 
busied  herself  in  providing  many 
little  comforts  for  him,  and  in  pre- 
paring suitable  clothes  both  for 
warm  and  cold  weather.  He  was 
much  pleased  with  his  sailor's  suit, 
and  had  he  only  behaved  as  well 
as  he  looked,  he  would  have  been  a 
very  good  boy,  for  he  was  a  fine 
looking  lad.  His  mother  entreated 
him,  with  tears,  to  govern  his  tem- 
per, and  to  try  to  win  the  favour 
of  the   captain  and  crew,  by  his 


JOHN    MAURICE.  13 

good  behaviour ;  to  which  he  re- 
plied with  much  self-confidence, 

"Oh,  mother,  never  fear!  No 
danger  but  that  I  shall  do  wrell 
enough.  When  I  am  among  men 
I  shall  not  be  so  tormented  and 
worried  as  I  am  when  I  am  at« 
home.  I  am  sure  I  am  not  to 
blame,  if  I  do  get  a  little  angry 
sometimes ;  I  like  to  have  my  own 
way,  you  know,  and  not  to  be 
teased." 

His  mother  parted  from  him 
with  a  heavy  heart,  but  it  was  not 
till  after  he  was  gone  that  she  felt 
what  a  constant  source  of  anxiety 
he  had  been  to  her.  She  felt  now 
as  if  he  would  be  under  restraint, 
2 


14  JOHN    MAURICE. 

and  in  much  less  danger  of  com 
mitting  some  dreadful  outrage. 

The  vessel  sailed,  and  John  wa> 
now  on  the  broad  ocean.  He  soon 
perceived  that  he  was  not  as  free 
from  restraint  as  he  had  hoped  to 
be.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life 
he  had  to  obey  orders  when  he 
had  rather  not ;  and  if  he  was 
sulky,  or  if  he  muttered  a  word  of 
complaint,  the  mate  would  speak 
sternly  to  him,  and  several  times 
he  was  struck  with  a  rope's  end. 
On  one  occasion  he  showred  so 
much  obstinacy  and  ill  temper 
that  the  captain  ordered  him  to  be 
put  in  irons;  that  is,  his  hands 
were  chained  together,  and  his  feet 
also.     The  captain  told  him,  if  he 


JOHN    MAURICE.  15 

saw  any  thing  of  the  kind  again, 
he  would  have  him  most  severely 
punished.  These  were  new  times 
for  John. 

In  this  way  his  temper  was  kept 
somewhat  in  check  during  the 
time  the  ship  was  absent.  At  the 
end  of  three  years  he  returned. 
He  was  much  growm,  and  his  fond 
mother  hoped  he  was  greatly  im- 
proved. He  wras  more  manly,  and 
had  less  frequent  sallies  of  violent 
temper.  Still,  several  times  within 
a  few  months  after  his  return,  he 
was  almost  furious  with  passion. 

He  had  bought  a  dog  soon  after 
his  return,  and  was  quite  anxious 
that  he  should  learn  a  variety  of 
tricks.      He  wished  him  to  carry 


16  JOHN    MAURICE. 

baskets  and  parcels,  but  the  animal 
was  too  playful  to  obey  his  master. 
When  John  threw  a  stick  the  dog 
would  go  after  it,  but  would  not 
bring  it  again  to  him,  and  when 
he  went  towards  him,  he  would 
run  away  as  fast  as  possible. 
When  John  could  overtake  him 
he  would  whip  him  in  a  very  cruel 
manner.  One  day  he  was  in  a 
perfect  rage,  because  he  could  not 
make  the  dog  do  as  he  desired. 
As  usual  the  dog  ran  away,  fearing 
a  severe  whipping,  and  seeing  this, 
John  went  into  the  house,  and 
seizing  a  gun,  shot  the  creature 
dead ! 

Several   years  rolled  away,  and 
John  was  without  any  regular  em- 


JOHN    MAURICE.  17 

ployment.  He  then  entered  the 
store  of  a  merchant,  who  had  been 
a  friend  of  his  father.  His  em- 
ployer really  hoped  he  should 
make  a  useful  man  of  him.  He 
told  him  plainly,  that  if  he  ex- 
pected to  receive  good  treatment 
he  must  conduct  himself  so  as  to 
deserve  it.  "As  you  mingle  with 
men,"  said  he,  "  you  must  contro] 
your  temper,  or  you  wrill  be  shun- 
ned by  all  as  a  dangerous  man." 

There  was  another  young  man 
in  the  same  store  with  John,  named 
Sanders.  He  had  been  but  a  short 
time  in  the  village,  and  had  but 
little  knowledge  of  his  companion, 
till  he  entered  into   the  employ- 


18  JOHN    MAURICE. 

ment  of  the  merchant,  by  whom 
John  was  employed  as  a  clerk. 

One  day  John  returned  to  the 
store,  after  he  had  been  home  to 
dinner,  in  very  bad  temper.  San 
ders  finding  him  rather  silent, 
went  up  to  him,  and,  slapping  him 
pleasantly  on  the  shoulder,  said, 
"  You  seem  rather  grave  this  after- 
noon. Has  any  thing  happened  to 
you  ?" 

"  Mind  your  own  concerns,  and 
do  not  question  me,  if  you  please, 
sir,"  replied  John. 

"  That  is  rather  a  short  answer," 
said    Sanders,   "to    a    civil    ques 
tion." 

"  What  business  have  you  to 
speak  to  me  ?'  replied  he  roughly 


JOHN   MAURICE.  19 

u  Mind  your  own  concerns,  sir,  1 
say." 

"  Why,  you    are    not   in  earn 
est,  surely,"  said  Sanders,  with  a 
smile. 

"  Well  then,  see  if  I  am  not," 
replied  John,  seizing  a  loaded  gun. 
which,  unfortunately,  was  too  near 
at  hand.  His  face  wras  pale  with 
anger;  and  speaking  through  his 
clenched  teeth,  he  said,  "  Now,  sir, 
leave  the  store,  or  I  will  shoot 
you." 

"I  am  not  afraid  of  that,  my 
good  fellow,  so  I  believe  I  will 
stay,"  replied  Sanders. 

"Don't  fire!  don't  fire!  John." 
exclaimed  a  lad,  who  was  the  only 
other    person    in    the   store ;    hut 


20  JOHN    MAURICE. 

John  Maurice  seemed  not  to  hear 
him  ;  and  exclaiming,  "  There  ! 
take  that,  then  !"  he  lodged  the 
contents  of  the  gun  in  the  side  of 
his  companion.  He  fell  with  a 
heavy  weight  on  the  floor,  and  was 
instantly  a  corpse ! 

"  You  have  killed  him  !"  cried 
the  hoy  who  had,  the  moment  he- 
fore,  warned  him. 

The  noise  of  the  report  brought 
several  men  into  the  store,  who 
had  been  standing  on  the  steps ; 
others  soon  arrived,  among  whom 
was  an  officer,  who  took  John  into 
custody. 

Then  followed  the  trial — the 
condemnation — the  sentence.  Oh. 
how  awful  to  enter  into  the  pre- 


JOHN    MAURICE.  21 

sence  of  God  with  the  guilt  of 
murder  on  the  soul !  How  awful 
to  appear  before  our  final  judge 
when  the  blood  of  a  fellow  crea- 
ture is  crying  unto  him  for  ven- 
geance upon  us ! 

Dear  children,  govern  your  tem- 
pers !  Sometimes  you  are  angry 
with  your  schoolmates.  You  will 
not  play  with  them,  nor  speak  to 
them;  and  in  your  little  hearts 
you  feel  hatred  towards  them. 
These  are  feelings  which  are  pos- 
sessed by  the  murderer.  Remem- 
ber, the  Scriptures  declare,  He  that 
hateth  his  brother  is  a  murderer. 

Check  the  beginnings  of  strife 
The  wise  man  has  said,  The  begin- 
ning of  strife  is  as  when  one  letteth 


22 


JOHN    MADR1CE. 


out  water :    therefore,  leave  off  con- 
tention before  it  be  meddled  with. 

He  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better 
than  the  mighty :  and  he  that  ruleth 
his  spirit  than  he  that  taketh  a 
city. 


**3%&fete£&s--j& 


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